Cirrus@Austlit

In this essay he questions the assertion by John Stephens that Australian (and, thus, any national) children's literature is primarily representational and that it should be interpreted predominantly in terms of established socio-cultural positions and values.

Penn argues that the Australian Bush - the native landscape - is still considered as an opponent to European-Australian characters in literature, despite its central place in identifying Australia. Indeed, that opposition becomes the key aspect of the portrayal of an Australian identity. In particular, she examines how European-Australians narratives, not yet comfortable with the challenges of the Australian Bush, therefore present this tense relationship as character-forming and identity-defining.